“Burke shows again that he’s not just a comic genius, but also a fine dramatic writer and storyteller.” – Booklist. “Prose both scabrous and poetic.” – Publishers Weekly. “Proust meets Chandler over a pint of Guinness.” – Spectator. “A sheer pleasure.” – Tana French. “Among the most memorable books of the year, of any genre.” – Sunday Times. “A hardboiled delight.” – Guardian. “Imagine Donald Westlake and Richard Stark collaborating on a screwball noir.” – Kirkus Reviews. “A cross between Raymond Chandler and Flann O’Brien.” – John Banville. “The effortless cool of Elmore Leonard at his peak.” – Ray Banks. “A fine writer at the top of his game.” – Lee Child.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

The Season Of Mists And Mellow Shortlistness

It’s that time of the year again, folks, that time of mists and mellow fruitfulness when I wonder (fruitlessly, for the most part, but in mellow fashion) as to the shape and content of the Ireland AM Irish Crime Novel of the Year - if memory serves, the shortlist for said award was announced in mid-October last year.
It’s been yet another very good year for the Irish crime novel, even if some of its leading lights - Colin Bateman, Gene Kerrigan, Ava McCarthy, last year’s winner Alan Glynn, Eoin McNamee, Declan Hughes - didn’t publish. It has also been a most extraordinary year for debuts, which - as I understand it, but don’t quote me on this - are more likely to be entered in the Best Newcomer section rather than the Best Crime Novel category. In fact, you’d put together a shortlist of debut Irish crime novels for 2012, it would look something like this:

So there you have it. If anyone fancies drawing up a six-book shortlist from that little lot, you’re a better man and / or woman than me. For what it’s worth - and bearing in mind that John Connolly’s novels are rarely put forward for consideration, and that e-only titles unfortunately don’t qualify - I’d imagine it’ll come down to a coin toss between Tana French and Adrian McKinty, both of whom produced superb novels this year, although I was particularly fond of Brian McGilloway’s and Alex Barclay’s new offerings too.
If anyone else has anything to add, including any titles I might have missed, the comment box is now open …

I don't think you're permitted to leave yourself off the list, though I haven't yet found a copy of SLAUGHTER'S HOUND in these United States.

I wish I'd read more of these, but it would be tough to beat Adrian McKinty's COLD, COLD GROUND.

I read CITY OF BOHANE, and I think it deserves some kind of an award, though perhaps not this award. It might be good to put it on the first novel list anyway. An SF/Fantasy that looks a lot like an Irish crime novel.

Richard, you can get your copy of Slaughter's Hound from Book Depository if you're willing to go that route. Mine is here and pretty close to the top of the pile. Actually, I read the opening scene and liked it very much.

I've read a lot of Irish crime fiction, but when I look at such lists, I only see the gaps in my reading. Still, The Cold, Cold Ground is what I'd pick from the contenders.

I haven’t read enough to make up a decent-size shortlist. But after reading Cold Cold Ground and Slaughter’s Hound, why would I need to?

Oddly enough, the only reason Stolen Souls was a bit of a fall-off for me from Stuart Neville's first two novels is that it was less political (and he has said as much interviews, so I don't feel bad bringing this up. But anyone reading this should know that his thriller chops are just as sharp in Stolen Souls as in the first two).

But it looks like he'll get political again in Ratlines, which I await eagerly. =============================Detectives Beyond Borders"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com

Slaughter's Hound

Absolute Zero Cool

“Among the most memorable books of the year, of any genre, was Declan Burke’s ABSOLUTE ZERO COOL ... a fiendishly dark thriller that evokes the best of Flann O’Brien and Bret Easton Ellis.” - Sunday Times

Books To Die For

“As good a collection of short essays on crime fiction as one is likely to find.” - Washington Post